Thursday March 2, 2017

When you have a hankerin’ for something sweet, or are in desperate need of a yummy drink to put a little more pep in your step, Bundts & Crumpets Specialty Tea in Tracy has you covered! If you’ve never heard of this charming little shop, owner and Mountain House resident, Dawn McMahan, is here to give you the scoop. As a family-owned business and a homage to all things delicious, this is a place you’ll definitely want save in your contacts list.

How did Bundts & Crumpets Specialty Team come to be?

Bundts & Crumpets Specialty Tea started while I was in law school. I needed something fun to balance out my legal studies and since I was an avid tea drinker, my husband suggested I start a tea company. I already had a made-to-order cupcake business, so I just restructured it to include our loose leaf tea selections.

Where do you draw inspiration from when coming up with recipes?

Most of my inspiration comes from my family. I get a lot of recipe ideas from my sons. I also developrecipes inspired by some of my favorite dining experiences. I do extensive research and development by exploring new bakeries and tea shops to see what they have to offer. At heart I am a foodie and I’m always looking to try the next big food trend.

Do you have a personal favorite tea and sweet on the menu?

It’s so hard to choose a favorite tea since I enjoy them all! But right now I would have to say that our Turmeric Ginger Rooibos is my go to choice for the moment. I enjoy it with a little honey. My favorite sweet is our Banana Pudding. It’s pretty amazing and was the reason I got to cater Super Bowl 50.

What’s the secret to making a really great tea?

The secret to making really great tea is the water. Water quality and temperature is so important when steeping tea. Purified water is best and the temperature should vary depending on what kindof tea you are steeping. The only teas that should be steeped using boiling water are black teas and fruit and herbal tisanes. White and green teas should be steeped with water heated just before itboils, and depending on the type of oolong, the temperature should fall somewhere in between. I find that most people do not like tea because they think it’s too bitter, but that is because they are steeping it incorrectly. Steeping times are also important, so when we package our teas, we also include temperature and steeping directions so our customers can enjoy the perfect cup.

For those who don’t know about your shop, what’s the best way for Mountain House residents to get ahold of your delicious teas and treats?

The best way to get ahold of our teas and treats is to either order online at bundtsandcrumpetstea.com, or to email us at bundtsandcrumpetstea@gmail.com. We also have a pop-up tea shop located inside of Viv & Ingrid at Oxford Hall in Berkeley. The shop is located at 2142 Oxford St, Berkeley CA 94704.

What do you love most about being a Mountain House resident?

I love the small community feel that Mountain House offers. You know your neighbors, you see children playing outside with their friends, and the area is relatively safe. Mountain House is also a great community because the residents come together to help each other out when needed and there are a lot of activities to bring the community together, like Music in the Park and restaurant night.